Aero Glide 3 GRVL

Get the salomon aero glide 3 GRVL. A much better, more responsive midsole with a better outsole and lower weight. Just a great shoe. Also pretty cheap on sale because it's the last generation model now (the v4 is VERY similar)

I love the weight and running experience of my new Adizero EVO SL shoes. (My Nike Vomero 18 are pretty comfortable but my new fave is the EVO SL) I have been hiking and backpacking in Altra Lone Peak for years but I’m starting to RUN long runs (10-20 miles) on flatter hard-pack desert trails and I’d like to find something with cushioning yet is super light. I would like enough grip for small gravel rocks. Any suggestions? (I need a wide toe box.) UPDATE: I ended up buying Mount to Coast H1, Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL,, Hoka Challenger 8 and Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed. I ended up keeping only the Hoka Challenger 8. Here are my thoughts: Adidas Terrex were interesting but too flat and didn't fit my foot at all. They are a unique shoe. I think they would be good on rocky, somewhat technical trails. Women's 8. $60 (Deal! too bad they didn't workout for me.) Mount to Coast H1 is sturdy, the rocker is not overly pronounced, I liked the shoe BUT the upper material is really thick and made my foot hot just walking around the house for an hour. Actually, the lugs were the least pronounced of all the shoes. Women's 8.5. $153 with slight discount. Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL is the lightest but felt sluggish running around the house but comfortable. A negative for me would be the deep cutouts in the sole, which could get gravel stuck. Women's 8.5. $150. Hoka Challenger 8 feels more like a road shoe but the lugs are the largest. It seems the most flexible of all the shoes as far as comfort is concerned. Women's 8. $105 because they are white. (My shoes look like crap after a few runs anyway. The Challenger doesn't seem to be as durable as either Mount to Coast nor Salomon but they felt the lightest and most comfortable overall.

For non-technical trails, you'd want to look at something like the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL as a trail equivilant to the Superblast 2. The demands of technical trails preclude a shoe design like the Superblast.

Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL is the perfect shoe in this scenario. That's not just for Salomon shoes, but in general.

[Salomon's Aero Glide 3 eTPU based Energy Foam EVO midsole paired with a gravel specific outsole](https://preview.redd.it/u43gr0lmf04f1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90fc16fc4ee499fca194d7a4bdf23b1494275e5f) **RUNNING SHOE GEEK:** EU 43 (US Men's 10), 175 cm (5'9”), 68 kg (149 lbs) **DISTANCE RAN TO DATE:** 82K on crushed limestone as well as Lake Michigan shoreline shingle **USE CASE:** A decade ago, gravel began to take off as a subset of cycling. Bridging the gap between road cycling and mountain biking, gravel has grown in popularity with its own races, gear, clubs, websites, etc. That is now carrying over into the running world. Whereas trail running tends to focus on forest single track & rocky mountain ridges and road running is all about pounding pace on pavement, gravel combines the best of both worlds. We are now seeing an evolution of the road-to-trail segment of running shoes geared toward a growing interest in gravel and bolstered by the post-pandemic explosion of ultramarathoning. **REASON FOR BUYING:** Upcoming gravel ultramarathons in South Dakota, Michigan, and Kansas, where I will benefit from a non-plated, max-cushioned shoe with high energy return, light weight, and a durable outsole. I am using this shoe as a daily trainer on gravel trails as well as the late-race shoe in my aid station drop bag. **OVERALL:** * Built for comfort first and foremost rather than speed or stability. * This is a shoe for long miles on non-technical terrain, gravel & sand, without significant hazards. * Surprisingly light for a trail shoe at 270g (9.5 ounces) for an EU 43 (US Men's 10) * Max cushioned shoe with a medium-high drop at 40mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot * The shoe does not have a plate, carbon or otherwise. * Reasonably priced at $160 USA/£145 UK/€160 EU **SIZING:** Slightly long for size. If unsure, go a half size down. **UPPER:** * Comfortable but thick and hot, particularly around the heel collar. * The mesh upper takes in water easily and, unfortunately, holds it in. * Standard-height heel collar with no built-in gaiter. You may want a gaiter on sand or gravel. * Standard flat laces rather than Salomon's polarizing Quicklace system. * Long, thick, and fully gusseted neoprene tongue. Zero chance of lace bite. * Rubber extension of the outsole serves as a toecap for gravel. Not adequate for big rocks or roots. * Characteristic of the brand, the midfoot runs narrow. The toe box is ample, but not Topo generous. **MIDSOLE:** * Surprisingly lightweight and bouncy due to the use of supercritical TPU foam. * The foot sinks into the soft midsole, providing a cradling effect. No break-in period needed. * Very cushy, soft shoe with a feel remarkably similar to the original ZoomX in the Nike Invincible. * The 8mm drop provides some forward propulsion, but no aggressive rocker. Not a speed shoe. * The lack of a carbon plate means no added stability on uneven surfaces given the high stack. * An exposed midsole on the bottom of the shoe may impact long-term durability. No rock plate. **OUTSOLE:** * Short 2mm chevron lugs with waffle lugs on the center forefoot. * This outsole is intentionally built for crushed gravel, shingle, and sand. * The short lugs allow for a pleasant ride on pavement. * This outsole is inadequate for mud. * The U-shaped outsole design provides for a more flexible shoe but also impacts stability. * The recessed center outsole provides greater control on sand and smooth shingle. * Salomon's ContraGrip rubber provides adequate, not outstanding, grip on wet surfaces. * Like most trail shoes, this shoe accepts pull-on winter traction devices well. **COMPARISON: If** there had been a trail version of the Nike Invincible 1, it would have been the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL.

The GRVL version is a niche shoe, but it fills that slot well, particularly in cooler and dry conditions. I've found it runs quite warm. So I likely won't be using it as much in the hot weather from June-August here in Michigan. Although I will take it to Lean Horse in South Dakota in mid-August. I haven't tried the Aero Glide 3 road shoe yet. But if it feels anything like the gravel version, it's likely a better alternative to the original Nike Invincible than the subsequent three generations of that shoe.

My concern in advising Xolei to use the GRVL version on paved roads is that trail shoes are designed with softer rubber lugs for grip on uneven terrain, including gravel roads and trails. While they can handle paved surfaces, those lugs are likely to wear down more quickly when used on asphalt. While I've used my Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL on asphalt, I wouldn't pick this shoe for running on asphalt exclusively, especially when there are already so many road running shoes available.

Aeroglides might be a little soft for trail, I would go with the gravel version

Aero Glide 3 Grvl might be worth a look. Currently on sale in a lot of places as version 4 has just been released. The grip is phenomenal.

my one shoe is the salomon AERO GLIDE 3 GRVL in white classy in white. run ok. hike ok. walk ok. breathable ok. light ok. just perfection.

My runs are very much the definition of mixed terrain so I'll give you my 2 cents. The outsole feels fine on road, I wonder if the road version feels softer due to the lack of that middle patch of rubber on the outsole. So far I've had no problems taking this shoe out on the road. The shoe does sound just a little bit loud but that isn't much of a problem to me. Compared to my 1080's the outsole does feel like it's kind of got a bite on the concrete. Although, this could just be me. I would say the gravel edition is great because it opens up so many possibilities in your runs. If you planned on running on road but you stumble upon a trail you can take that trail without worrying too much. This shoe would also be great once it starts snowing.